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Fort HealthCare nurses honored for professional advancement

November 20, 2013

Recently, the Nursing Services department at Fort HealthCare recognized 42 registered nurses (RNs) who demonstrated both clinical excellence in the care of patients and also advanced the profession of nursing throughout the past year.

The nurses, honored at a ceremony held in the Fort Memorial Hospital Steel Away Café on November 13, are current participants in the Fort HealthCare Clinical Pathway Program. The program is comprised of four paths that acknowledge a nurse’s exceptional efforts in areas of leadership, teamwork, performance, education, professionalism and clinical practice.

Registered nurses recognized for achieving success along Pathway One have excelled in setting professional goals and participating in committees and groups outside their regular duties of direct patient care.

RNs who have completed the requirements of Pathway Two have demonstrated an expanded role in community activities and additional professional education.

Those declared proficient in the skill set of Pathway Three have taken on additional leadership roles, provided education to other staff and community members, and continued to further their own educational training.

Last, RNs who completed Pathway Four have achieved role model status among their nursing department peers, have attained a higher level of education and/or clinical experience, and have taken an active role in organizational and community leadership.

Movement between the pathways can be fluid, as RN’s strive to find balance between their personal and work life. However, the skills and accomplishments of one path build upon the requirements and expectations of others.

The Fort HealthCare Nursing Services department is organized along the principals of the a Shared Governance philosophy. Shared Governance offers nurses and partnering clinicians a direct voice in effecting change, promoting positive outcomes, and creating best practices for patients, families, and the community. A key element of this operational philosophy is a high expectation for maintaining positive working relationships among hospital departments and open communication between teams.

Shared Governance gives frontline nursing and clinical staff the ability to determine the best patient care practices and programs for the organization, which are then incorporated into the standards and expectations of the Clinical Pathway Program.